Alok Sharma MP contacted the heads of the Whitchurch Bridge Company and Balfour Beatty, who are carrying out the work, after residents and businesses received a statement saying that work on the bridge had been hampered by the recent adverse weather

The MP for Reading West has called for an urgent meeting with the companies behind the Whitchurch Bridge reconstruction after it was revealed the work would not be completed until August.

Alok Sharma MP contacted the heads of the Whitchurch Bridge Company and Balfour Beatty, who are carrying out the work, after residents and businesses received a statement saying that work on the bridge had been hampered by the recent adverse weather.

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The bridge, which closed to road traffic in October 2013, was due to re-open in April after reconstruction works were completed.

But a statement released by the Whitchurch Bridge Company on Monday said that due to the recent flooding the works were taking longer than first anticipated.

Mr Sharma said: “I have written to the Whitchurch Bridge Company and Balfour Beatty asking for an urgent meeting to update on the reasons for the delay.

“We have had about five weeks of bad weather, but that does not explain a three month delay and unless there is a focus on this I am very concerned that the timetable will slip further.

“I will be proposing to the companies that we set up a local liaison group, involving representatives of local councils and businesses, to monitor progress of the works.”

Pangbourne District Councillor Pamela Bale said: “I am very disappointed to hear that the planned opening of the new bridge has been significantly delayed.

“I appreciate that the severe weather has prevented the contractor from working on the River Thames, but the delay will further exacerbate the impact on businesses in Pangbourne.“

Chairman of the Whitchurch Bridge Company Mike Beckley said in the statement: “The Company very much regrets the inconvenience that the delay to the re-opening will cause to local residents, residents on the diversionary routes and local businesses.

“We will continue to press Balfour Beatty to complete the works as soon as possible.”

The statement was delivered to local residents and businesses on Monday morning, who were told to expect delays until July, with the exact date to be announced later.

Paul Sampson, director of The Green Parlour florist, said that although his business hadn’t suffered due to the bridge closure, residents were becoming increasingly frustrated by the traffic congestion getting in and out of the village.

He said: “It has been very disruptive for residents both here and in Whitchurch, but we have been able to plan in advance and it has not been anywhere near as bad as we thought it would be.”

A spokesperson for Balfour Beatty said: “Balfour Beatty is totally committed to carrying out the reconstruction of Whitchurch Bridge as quickly as possible.

“We have been faced with unprecedented river conditions during this project and unfortunately it has been unsafe to carry out works on the river since before Christmas. We have been urgently looking at alternative ways of working should the flooding continue, consulting with all interested parties, and we will complete this project as soon as safely possible.”

The bridge is now due to reopen to river traffic on Monday, March 31, with the works due to be fully completed in August.

The bridge is open to pedestrians, cyclists and light motorcycles which can be wheeled over the crossing.